The Turkish security forces and a group of PKK rebels exchanged fire in Agri province after four Turkish soldiers were wounded in an armed attack by PKK militants, said the statement, adding that the Turkish troops killed five PKK militants and injured one.
The wounded Turkish soldiers were treated in Agri State hospital, said the statement.
The PKK militants opened fire on Turkish soldiers early Saturday as they were moving to Yukaritutek village near Diyadin district of Agri upon intelligence that the PKK group will organize an event named "Spring Festival," the Turkish Armed Forces said.
According to the intelligence, the PKK was planning to put pressure on citizens in the festival to vote for the candidates affiliated with the group in the upcoming parliament elections.
"The army promptly responded to the attack, but four military personnel were injured," the statement said.
The clashes came three weeks after the jailed leader of the PKK Abdullah Ocalan called on his followers to hold a congress "to end decades-long armed struggle" with Turkey, a move as part of a peace process involving negotiations between the government and Ocalan.
The country will hold the general elections on June 7. The PKK-affiliated Peoples' Democratic Party aims to come over 10 percent election threshold so as to get at least 50 seats in the parliament.
Source:Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
12/4/15
--
-
Related:
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Saying it had been tasked by a civilian authority and its primary motive was not to conduct any military operation, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has denied accusations about its conduct in an incident that resulted in a deadly clash with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Ağrı...
ReplyDeleteBrigadier General Ertuğrulgazi Özkürkçü stated on April 13 that the TSK had been conducting its duties and responsibilities as defined in the constitution, without becoming involved with any political views and formations. “Whatever party our citizens, who we serve support or are members of does not and will not change our duties,” Özkürkçü said.
He said they had “provided public security on the governor’s order,” after receiving notices from both intelligence units and tip-offs given to the Ağrı Governor’s Office a few days before the incident.
“Gendarmerie units - who are public order and law enforcement forces - were tasked with security measures at the ‘Spring Festival,’” Özkürkçü said in an interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency. “This preventive measure taken because of security has nothing to do with the Turkish Armed Forces. However … the Gendarmerie didn’t go to the region to conduct an operation where the latest clash erupted.”
“These kinds of measures have been implemented with the same level of rigor in similar activities in every corner of our country,” Özkürkçü added............hurriyetdailynews.com
13/4/15
The Turkish military on Monday thanked villagers for their help to soldiers who were wounded during the clash between outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists and Turkish forces in the eastern province of Ağrı on Saturday, saying the assistance given demonstrated the unity and solidarity present in the Turkish nation...
ReplyDeleteIn a statement released on its website on Monday, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said the help given by citizens who arrived at the site of the clash during the evacuation by air of four wounded soldiers is worthy of respect. The military underlined that villagers' help demonstrated citizens' loyalty to Turkish soldiers and showed a good example of unity and solidarity in the nation..........todayszaman.com
13/4/15